Multifunctional electric power supply component and system, propulsion system, method for controlling the same, and electric or hybrid aircraft comprising the component and systems

Abstract

An electrical power supply system for an aircraft comprising: a string of a plurality of connected smart battery modules, wherein the string is configured to provide a common output voltage; wherein each of the smart battery modules comprises, terminals for outputting an output voltage to a device external to the smart battery module; a battery assembly configured to supply a DC voltage between two poles; a power converter electrically connected to the terminals and the poles, and a controller operably coupled to the semiconductor stage and configured to control the semiconductor stage for regulating the voltage conversation of the DC voltage into the output voltage a control unit operably coupled to the controller of each smart battery module and configured to set an output voltage and/or current setpoint or limit for each controller individually or configured to set an output voltage and/or current setpoint or limit for all controllers collectively.

1 . An electrical power supply system for an electric or hybrid aircraft comprising:
 a string of a plurality in series connected smart battery modules, wherein the string is configured to provide a common output voltage;   wherein each of the smart battery modules comprises,
 terminals for outputting an output voltage to a device external to the smart battery module; 
 a battery assembly configured to supply a DC voltage between two poles; 
 a power converter electrically connected to the terminals and the poles, wherein the power converter is configured to convert the DC voltage into the output voltage and is adapted to provide the output voltage to the terminals, wherein a voltage average of the output voltage can be different from a DC voltage level of the DC voltage, and 
 a controller operably coupled to a semiconductor stage and configured to control the semiconductor stage for regulating voltage conversation of the DC voltage into the output voltage; and 
   a control unit operably coupled to the controller of each smart battery module and configured to set an output voltage or current setpoint or limit for each controller individually or configured to set an output voltage or current setpoint or limit for all controllers collectively, the respective controllers of the smart battery modules is configured to carry out real-time monitoring of a state of its respective smart battery module in the string.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the common output voltage corresponds to a sum of output voltages outputted by each smart battery module. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , comprising an inductance connected in series with the string. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 3  wherein the inductance is provided as a conductor or cable of which a given parasitic inductance and resistance are used to establish a required impedance. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of strings connected in parallel, wherein the parallel connected strings are configured to supply a common output current corresponding to a sum of output currents outputted by each string. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical power supply system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to set the output voltage and/or current setpoint or limit to a predetermined fixed value, or the control unit is configured to vary the output voltage and/or current setpoint or limit or setpoints in dependency of a control value provided by a control instance external to the electrical power supply system. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide a synchronisation signal to the controllers of the smart battery modules for synchronising timing of consecutive switching cycles of the smart battery modules, and/or the control unit is configured to provide a timing setpoint to the controllers of the smart battery modules for varying the timing of each switching cycle with reference to the timing synchronised. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , wherein a control value of the output voltage setpoint and/or current provided by a control instance external to the electrical power supply system is a time-invariant control value. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 8 , wherein the common output voltage is a DC voltage with a residual periodic variation of the DC voltage level for supplying a DC load external to the electrical power supply system. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 8 , wherein a control value of the output voltage and/or current setpoint provided by a control instance external to the electrical power supply system is a time-variant control value. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 10 , wherein the common output voltage is an AC voltage for supplying an AC load external to the electrical power supply system. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the battery assembly of each respective smart battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells and/or a plurality of ultracapacitors for storing and releasing electrical energy. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , wherein in each respective smart battery module the power converter is configured to switchably connect one pole of the battery assembly to one of the terminals for converting the DC voltage into the output voltage. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 1 , wherein in each respective smart battery module the power converter is configured as a non-isolated DC/DC converter, comprising an input end arranged with an input filter stage, wherein the input end is connected to the poles of the battery assembly and the power converter comprises a semiconductor stage configured to switchably connect the input filter stage to one of the terminals. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 14 , wherein in each respective smart battery module the input filter stage comprises an inductor connected to one pole of the battery assembly, wherein the semiconductor stage is arranged to switchably connect the inductor to one of the terminals. 
     
     
         16 . An electrical power supply system for an electric or hybrid aircraft comprising:
 a string of a plurality in series connected smart battery modules, wherein the string is configured to provide a common output voltage;   wherein each of the smart battery modules comprises,
 terminals for outputting an output voltage to a device external to the smart battery module; 
 a battery assembly configured to supply a DC voltage between two poles; 
 a power converter electrically connected to the terminals and the poles, wherein the power converter is configured to convert the DC voltage into the output voltage and is adapted to provide the output voltage to the terminals, wherein a voltage average of the output voltage can be different from a DC voltage level of the DC voltage, and 
 a controller operably coupled to a semiconductor stage and configured to control the semiconductor stage for regulating voltage conversation of the DC voltage into the output voltage; 
   a control unit operably coupled to the controller of each smart battery module and configured to set an output voltage or current setpoint or limit for each controller individually or configured to set an output voltage or current setpoint or limit for all controllers collectively, wherein the control unit is configured to carry out real-time monitoring of a state of each of the smart battery modules in the string and to operate each of the smart battery modules to output a volage which is proportional to an energy available in that smart battery module.   
     
     
         17 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , wherein the common output voltage corresponds to a sum of output voltages outputted by each smart battery module. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , comprising an inductance connected in series with the string. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 18  wherein the inductance is provided as a conductor or cable of which a given parasitic inductance and resistance are used to establish a required impedance. 
     
     
         20 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of strings connected in parallel, wherein the parallel connected strings are configured to supply a common output current corresponding to a sum of output currents outputted by each string. 
     
     
         21 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 20 , comprising a plurality of inductances, at least one inductance is connected in series with a corresponding string. 
     
     
         22 . The electrical power supply system according to  claim 16 , wherein the control unit is configured to set the output voltage and/or current setpoint or limit to a predetermined fixed value, or the control unit is configured to vary the output voltage and/or current setpoint or limit or setpoints in dependency of a control value provided by a control instance external to the electrical power supply system. 
     
     
         23 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide a synchronisation signal to the controllers of the smart battery modules for synchronising timing of consecutive switching cycles of the smart battery modules, and/or the control unit is configured to provide a timing setpoint to the controllers of the smart battery modules for varying the timing of each switching cycle with reference to the timing synchronised. 
     
     
         24 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , wherein a control value of the output voltage setpoint and/or current provided by a control instance external to the electrical power supply system is a time-invariant control value. 
     
     
         25 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 24 , wherein the common output voltage is a DC voltage with a residual periodic variation of the DC voltage level for supplying a DC load external to the electrical power supply system. 
     
     
         26 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 24 , wherein a control value of the output voltage and/or current setpoint provided by a control instance external to the electrical power supply system is a time-variant control value. 
     
     
         27 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 26 , wherein the common output voltage is an AC voltage for supplying an AC load external to the electrical power supply system. 
     
     
         28 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , wherein the battery assembly of each respective smart battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells and/or a plurality of ultracapacitors for storing and releasing electrical energy. 
     
     
         29 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , wherein in each respective smart battery module the power converter is configured to switchably connect one pole of the battery assembly to one of the terminals for converting the DC voltage into the output voltage. 
     
     
         30 . The electrical power supply system of  claim 16 , wherein in each respective smart battery module the power converter is configured as a non-isolated DC/DC converter, comprising an input end arranged with an input filter stage, wherein the input end is connected to the poles of the battery assembly and the power converter comprises a semiconductor stage configured to switchably connect the input filter stage to one of the terminals.